Instrumentation
Indian music > Instrumentation
Indian music has developed through very complex interactions between different peoples of different races and cultures over several thousand years. In a musical tradition in which improvisation predominates, and written notation, when used, is skeletal, the music of past generations is irrevocably lost.
Sitar, sarod, tabla, sarangi or dhrupad, khayal, ghazal or raga, tala, gharana- these are known the world over today. They represent Hindustani Art Music – in reality, a part of Indian Classical music.
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INSTRUMENT
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ABOUT
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CATEGORY
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A pair of 2 drums, dayan (the right hand drum) and the bayan (the left hand drum). It’s the most important rhythmic instrument in Hindustani classical music.
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Percussions |
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Tabla
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This barrel drum was the traditional classical percussion of North India before Tabla. It has two heads, with the rear often coated in clay (masala) to lower its pitch. |
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Pakhawaj
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This round-shaped barrel drum is mostly used for folk music. Unlike Tabla or Pakhawaj, the masala paste is applied inside the low-pitch skin. |
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Dholak
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The Nagara, or Nagada, is essentially a kettle drum, and its use is usually to accompany another instrument, most often a reeded wind instrument, the Shehnai. |
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Nagara
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The Sitar, perhaps the best known Indian instrument, has usually 4 main strings, 2 chikari that are hit to mark the base note (sa), and 13 sympathetics that vibrate along. |
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Sitar
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Sarod bears some resemblance with the Sitar, but its head is covered by a thin goat skin that gives it a sweeter sound. It also has a fretless metal neck.
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Sarod
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No need to introduce the Guitar, one of the most popular instruments in the whole world. Indians also use it in both classical and folk music. |
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Guitar
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The Santoor is an Indian hammered dulcimer. It is very much used in classical music, but also in folk music, specially in Kashmir. |
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Santoor
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The Sarangi is an Indian fiddle roughly the size of a viola that is played sitting down like a cello. It was the main accompaniment for vocal and dance performances. |
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Sarangi
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The Harmonium is a hand pumped reed organ which is a recent import to Indian music. Its impact on most Indian music styles has been great, turning up in many genres. |
Wind |
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Harmonium
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The Bansuri is a bamboo traverse flute, similar in its design to a modern concert flute. It is one of the oldest music instruments, depicted in ancient scriptures. |
Wind |
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Bansuri
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The Shehnai is a quadruple reed instrument similar to a classical oboe. It is considered a very auspicious instrument and therefore played on important occasions. |
Wind |
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Shehnai
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Bols are rhythmic mnemonics that have been used since ages to transmit rhythmic knowledge from master to student in an oral way. |
Voice |
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Tabla Bols
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In the same way, Sargam, the title given to the collection of notes in India, is the way melodic compositions have been shared from generations until now. |
Voice |
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Sargam
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The Manjeera or Manjira, also known as Tala, are a small pair of cymbals that are played with the hands to accompany folk or devotional music. |
Percussions |
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Manjeera
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The Tanpura is a drone stringed instrument, similar in sound to a Sitar being played without fretting any notes. This drone accompanies most classical concerts. |
Drones |
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Tanpura
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Dhol is a large barrel-shaped drum that is played with sticks on both sides. It is the main rhythmic instrument used in Bhangra, the folk music on Punjab state. |
Percussions
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Dhol
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Naal is a hybrid instrument that has a high pitch tabla head on one side, and a dholak low-pitch skin on the other side. It is used mainly in folk music. |
Percussions
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Naal
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Originated from Arabia, the Duff is also very popular in Indian folk music, specifically in Kashmir region. It allows for both very low and very sharp sounds. |
Percussions
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Duff
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This one piece drum is very similar to South Indian Kanjeera, except for the bells. Modulations can be achieved by adapting the pressure on the skin. |
Percussions
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Dimdi
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This instrument has the shape of Shri Shiva’s Damroo drum. Player achieves different modulations by pulling the strings that tie its 2 heads. |
Percussions
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Tudd
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Gunghroos are bells-covered belts that are tied to the feet of Indian dancers, who play them through intricate steps. It is also an accompaniment instrument in folk music. |
Percussions
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Ghungroo
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This earthern drum bears much resemblance to the Irani Tumakh, except for the shape of its body. It provides a fascinating dimension to Kashmiri folk music. |
Percussions
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Tumbak
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This instrument combines 3 Tabla dayans (right drum) that can be tuned at different pitches to achieve a melodic effect in accompaniment. Also called Maadal. |
Percussions
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Duggis
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Chimta is a long instrument featuring 2 metal spades covered with small bells that are tied together at one end along with a metal ring. |
Percussions
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Chimta
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Wooden sticks carved and filled with one or more rows of bells. They are played as a rhythmic accompaniment by shaking them or hitting them against the palm. |
Percussions
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Tam-bourines
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Israj is a bowed instrument with a neck like sitar, though smaller in size. It also has sympathetic strings that vibrate while playing to create harmonics. |
Strings
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Israj
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Banjo is a stringed instrument played with a guitar plectrum while pressing keys like on a harmonium. These keys in turn pinch the string, creating a particular sound. |
Strings
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Banjo
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Tumbi is a one string instrument with a skin-covered body, typical of Bhangra music. It has been popularized world-wide in Punjabi MC’s “Mundian to Bach Ke” title. |
Strings
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Tumbi
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The Manjeera or Manjira, also known as Tala, are a small pair of cymbals that are played with the hands to accompany folk or devotional music. |
Percussion
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Manjeera
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The Tanpura is a drone stringed instrument, similar in sound to a Sitar being played without fretting any notes. This drone accompanies most classical concerts. |
Drones
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Tanpura
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